2.2

Question 1

cloture rule

Answer 1

Rule 22 of the Senate, providing for the end of debate on a bill if three-fifths of the members agree

Question 2

Committee of the Whole

Question 3

germane

Answer 3

These legislators can offer
only germane amendments to a bill, those directly related to the legislation
under consideration.

Question 4

House Rules Committee

Answer 4

The House Rules Committee is very powerful. It can easily dispose of a
bill or define the guidelines for debate because it acts as a traffic cop to the
House floor. Nothing reaches the floor unless the Rules Committee allows it.

Question 5

Committee of the Whole

Answer 5

The Committee of the Whole is also unique to the House. It includes but
does not require all representatives. However, the Committee of the Whole
is more of a state of operation in which the House rules are relaxed than an
actual committee. It was created to allow longer debate among fewer people
and to allow members to vote as a group rather than in an individual roll call.

Question 6

Discharge petition

Answer 6

A modern device that functions as a step toward transparency and
democracy in the House is the discharge petition. The discharge petition can
bring a bill out of a reluctant committee.

Question 7

filibuster

Answer 7

Senators can propose nongermane amendments. They can add
amendments on any subject they want. Senators also have strategic ways to
use their debate time. For example, they may try to stall or even kill a bill by
speaking for an extremely long time, a tactic known as the filibuster, to block
a nomination or to let the time run out on a deadline for voting on a bill.

Question 8

hold

Answer 8

measure to stall a bill

Question 9

unanimous consent

Answer 9

approval of all senators

Question 10

bill’s sponsor

Answer 10

the member
who introduces it and typically assumes authorship

Question 11

riders

Answer 11

Additional ideas and programs can become
attached to the original bill. The nongermane amendments, or riders, are
often added to benefit a member’s own agenda or programs or to enhance the political chances of the bill.

Question 12

omnibus bill

Answer 12

An omnibus bill includes multiple areas of law and/or addresses multiple programs.

Question 13

christmas tree bill

Answer 13

A long string of riders will earn it the nickname “Christmas Tree bill”
because it often delivers gifts in the form of special projects a legislator can take
home…

Question 14

pork-barrel spending

Answer 14

One product of these legislative add-ons is pork barrel spending—funds earmarked for specific purposes in a legislator’s district.

Question 15

logrolling

Answer 15

Another factor affecting lawmaking is logrolling, or trading votes to gain support for a bill. By agreeing to back someone else’s bill, members can secure a vote in return for a bill of their own. “if u vote me ill vote u”

Question 16

mandatory spending

Answer 16

Mandatory spending is payment required by law, or mandated, for certain programs. These programs include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, and other special funds for people in temporary need of help.

Question 17

deficit

Answer 17

The difference between spending
and revenue, close to a trillion dollars in 2019, is the deficit.

Question 18

discretionary spending

Answer 18

Discretionary spending is funding that congressional committees debate and decide how to divide up. This spending—about 38 percent of the 2019 budget—pays for everything else not required under mandatory spending.
they like this spending

Question 19

gridlock

Answer 19

Intensifying partisanship has caused gridlock—the “congestion” of opposing forces that prevents ideas from moving forward—
within each house and between the Congress and the president. nothing gets done

Question 20

delegate model

Answer 20

However, different lawmakers use differing voting models, or approaches to how they vote. Those members trying to reflect the will of their constituency,
especially in the House, follow the delegate model. “We didn’t send you to Washington to make intelligent decisions,” the angry voter said, “we sent you to represent us.”

Question 21

substantive

Answer 21

advocating on
behalf of certain groups of constituents

Question 22

descriptive

Answer 22

advocating not only for the views of constituents but also for the factors that make those
constituents unique, such as geography, occupation, gender, and ethnicity

Question 23

trustee model

Answer 23

Representatives believe they are entrusted by their constituency to use their best judgment, regardless of how constituents may view an issue.

Question 23

politico model

Answer 23

The politico model of voting attempts to blend the delegate and trustee models. That is, lawmakers consider a variety of factors and decide their action or vote for whatever political calculations make the most sense to them at
the time, especially when there seems to be little public concern. On matters generating strong public opinion, representatives using the politico model would take those opinions strongly into account.

Question 24

redistricting

Answer 24

Following the constitutionally required census every ten years, the reshaping of congressional districts based on shifts in population has influenced
congressional behavior.